GOP wants Obama to empower them to cut budget

WASHINGTON 
House Republicans are asking President Barack Obama to work with them to cancel already-in-place spending programs.

Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia sent a letter to the White House on Thursday asking Obama to invoke a provision that lets lawmakers cut money included in past budgets. The White House didn't have immediate comment.

Cantor, the No. 2 House Republican, says Obama has the ability to prove he's serious about cutting the budget.

GOP lawmakers say they need the workaround because Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to compromise. Obama has been pushing for bipartisanship but giving the Republicans that ability would be a political embarrassment for Pelosi.

(This version CORRECTS that Cantor is the No. 2 House Republican, not the No. 3.)